Page 13 - The Garden of Perfect Brightness l: The Yuanmingyuan as Imperial Paradise (1700–1860)

The imperial rural retreat, Yuanmingyuan, was situated about eight
kilometers (five miles) from the northwest gate (Xizhimen) of Beijing’s
city wall. It was another four kilometers (2.5 miles) from the gate to the

Forbidden City.

The gardens of the Yuanmingyuan

Yuanmingyuan Xiyanglou Changchunyuan
(Garden of Perfect Brightness) (European Palaces) (Garden of Eternal Spring)

Main Entrance Qichunyuan
(Garden of Elegant Spring)

The gardens collectively known as the Yuanmingyuan are shown here
as they would have looked around 1860 during the reign of Emperor

Xianfeng.

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